After attending his first NHL training camp with the Winnipeg Jets, the right-winger with the wicked shot quickly realized it was time to become more than just a goal scorer.

That observation paid big dividends as Kosmachuk enjoyed the most productive season of his Ontario Hockey League career and helped the Guelph Storm advance to the Memorial Cup, which begins in London, Ont. on Friday.

“My first few seasons in the OHL, I just wanted to play an offensive game,” Kosmachuk said in a telephone interview from Guelph, Ont. on Tuesday. “But to play at the next level, you’re going to have to play in all three zones of the rink bring physicality to the game and bring a little bit of everything. That’s basically what I tried to work on. To be a complete player.”

Kosmachuk already was known for his quick release when the Jets selected him in the third round (70th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

But the Toronto product has improved his offensive totals in each of his four OHL seasons, culminating with 49 goals (tied for second in the OHL) and 101 points (third in the OHL) in 68 games during the regular season before adding 10 goals and 28 points (tied for third in the OHL) in 20 playoff games with the Storm.

Although Kosmachuk went out of his way to credit the Storm coaching staff (which includes former NHLers Scott Walker and Todd Harvey) for their preparation and his regular linemates Jason Dickinson and Brock McGinn for helping him put up big numbers, he did confess that cracking the century mark was special.

“Actually, that was pretty cool,” said Kosmachuk. “There are lots of guys I think could have done it but there’s only a few that do. I had great linemates that were feeding me the puck and scoring when I passed to them. It was a treat.”

Kosmachuk, 20, is the only Jets’ prospect suiting up at the national junior championship, as Nic Petan and the Portland Winterhawks were eliminated in the seventh game of the Western Hockey League championship final by the Edmonton Oil Kings on Monday night.

Although he projects to open next season with the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League, the sole focus of Kosmachuk right now is on enjoying the Memorial Cup experience and finding a way to capture another title before he says farewell to junior hockey.

With a record of 52-12-2-2, the Storm finished first overall in the OHL and figure to be one of the favourites in the Memorial Cup after going 16-4 during the playoffs.

“That was a thing that our coaches stressed. Great teams don’t lose two in a row,” said Kosmachuk. “It’s just kind of a bounce-back thing. We have the guys in the room that are determined to win games. We have a great team and if we’re playing to the best of our abilities, no team can skate or play with us.”

The Storm open up against an unfamiliar opponent in the Oil Kings on Saturday, but playing for a national championship in their home province could help them.

“Obviously, I think it’s a little bit of an advantage. We’ll have a level of comfort going into London. It’s only an hour and 20 minutes down the road. Some guys are pretty familiar with the town and the rink, that’s going to be huge for us,” said Kosmachuk. “I’m looking forward to being with the team, we don’t have a whole lot of time left together. But we’re going to make the (time during the tournament) something special and something we’re going to remember.

“It’s pretty exciting. It’s something that not a lot of people get to do. Our goal is to go in there and win it.”

Winnipeg Jets prospect Kosmachuk taking Memorial Cup by Storm

After attending his first NHL training camp with the Winnipeg Jets, the right-winger with the wicked shot quickly realized it was time to become more than just a goal scorer.

That observation paid big dividends as Kosmachuk enjoyed the most productive season of his Ontario Hockey League career and helped the Guelph Storm advance to the Memorial Cup, which begins in London, Ont. on Friday.

“My first few seasons in the OHL, I just wanted to play an offensive game,” Kosmachuk said in a telephone interview from Guelph, Ont. on Tuesday. “But to play at the next level, you’re going to have to play in all three zones of the rink bring physicality to the game and bring a little bit of everything. That’s basically what I tried to work on. To be a complete player.”

Kosmachuk already was known for his quick release when the Jets selected him in the third round (70th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.